The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) The NCTA is the nation’s oldest multicultural arts presenting organization. For over eight decades, through festivals, tours, symposia, exhibits, and media productions, the NCTA has showcased the very best of the myriad grassroots folk, tribal and ethnic cultures that comprise our diverse nation.
After an extensive nationwide search, ArtsGreensboro has appointed seasoned festival administrator Amy Grossmann as the Local Director for the National Folk Festival, President and CEO Thomas Philion announced today. Working out of ArtsGreensboro’s offices in the Cultural Center, Grossmann will begin her work on January 2, 2015.
In this role, Grossmann will work directly for ArtsGreensboro and in close cooperation with the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the organizations co-presenting the “National” for its three-year residency in Greensboro beginning September 11 – 13, 2015. Grossmann will oversee all administrative and logistical elements of the festival, and will also play a leadership role in managing local operations—from vendor relationships to volunteer needs.
Grossmann brings a wealth of national festival management experience with her to her new position here. From 2001 through 2006, she was the Program Manager/Logistics Coordinator for the NCTA, where she worked with several host communities presenting National Folk Festivals as well as former National host cities producing legacy festivals.
Currently, Grossmann is a Program Director for the Maryland State Arts Council, where she oversees general operating and touring grant programs. Previously, she was the Community Events Director at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, California, from 2007 to 2012.
“Many strong candidates applied for this position from around North Carolina and across the Southeast,” Philion said. “With Amy’s unique background—including her experience with the National Folk Festival—we’re thrilled that she’ll be joining our local National Folk Festival team.”
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in Greensboro in 2015, the “National” is a FREE, three-day outdoor event celebrating the diversity and vibrancy of American culture through music, dance, storytelling, traditional crafts, food, and more. It will feature more than 30 performing groups on seven stages with continuous music and dance performances, along with children’s activities, a North Carolina folklife area, a festival marketplace, and regional and ethnic foods. The festival is expected to draw up to 175,000 visitors—many from across the United States—to Greensboro by its third year in 2017.
ArtsGreensboro and the NCTA will co-produce the free festival in cooperation with the City of Greensboro, the Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Action Greensboro, DGI, and other local groups. Looking ahead, the National Folk Festival will be held September 9 – 11 in 2016, and September 8 – 10 in 2017.
